Is emotional distress considered bodily injury in Texas?

Asked by: Cleora Schuster  |  Last update: January 26, 2026
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Emotional distress damages can include compensation for pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and other non-economic damages related to the victim's mental health. In Texas, emotional distress damages are considered non-economic damages, as they are not physical injuries and are more subjective in nature.

Is emotional distress a bodily injury in Texas?

If you experienced emotional distress due to someone else's negligence, Texas allows you to sue for compensation as long as you're also seeking recovery for physical injuries. Depending on the type of emotional distress you seek compensation for, you may have to provide different kinds of evidence.

Can you sue work for emotional distress?

Yes, you can file an emotional distress lawsuit. If a supervisor caused emotional distress or a co-worker recklessly or intentionally inflicted emotional distress, you may have a case. Some workplaces are more stressful than others. But not every situation meets the legal definition for emotional distress.

What is the legal term for causing emotional distress?

Intentional infliction of emotional distress (IIED) refers to when someone purposely causes someone emotional distress such as by threatening to physically harm said person. A person can commit negligent infliction of emotional distress by acting negligently, in a way that causes emotional distress of someone.

Is emotional distress bodily injury?

Emotional distress falls under the broader category of pain and suffering, but it is distinct from the suffering you endure from bodily injury.

What’s the Truth About Emotional Distress and Non-Physical Injuries? 🤔 Uncover It with MG

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Can you claim damages for emotional distress?

Furthermore, emotional distress is a legitimate form of harm resulting from medical negligence, and patients may be entitled to psychological harm claims for their suffering. This can include damages for pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and therapy and counselling expenses.

Is emotional harm considered an injury?

A: Emotional distress does fall under the category of personal injury. In any situation where physical harm is inflicted or witnessed, there is a chance that emotional and mental injury has occurred as well.

How hard is it to prove emotional distress?

Proving a claim for emotional distress can be intricate due to the subjective nature of emotional experiences and the lack of tangible evidence. However, several key considerations increase the likelihood of a successful claim: Severity.

What is the most you can sue for emotional distress?

The second type of emotional distress claim is one that is worth more than $50,000 up to hundreds of thousands of dollars, depending on the factual circumstances. You would need one or more medical opinions to support this claim and be prepared to have those medical advisors testify in court.

What is intentional infliction of emotional distress in Texas?

Intentional infliction of emotional distress is a "gap-filler" tort applicable only when "a defendant intentionally inflicts severe emotional distress in a manner so unusual that the victim has no other recognized theory of redress." Hoffmann--La Roche Inc. v. Zeltwanger, 144 S.W. 3d 438, 447 (Tex.

Can I sue my employer for emotional distress in Texas?

In essence, in order to assert a claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress under Texas law, an employee must establish that: (1) the employer acted intentionally or recklessly; (2) the conduct was extreme and outrageous; (3) the employer's action actually caused the employee's emotional distress; (4) the ...

What is emotional distress worth?

Once the attorney has argued for emotional distress damages, he or she will then calculate a settlement amount using what's called a “multiplier method.” It works by adding up all the tangible or economic damages, like medical costs and lost wages, and then multiplying that sum by a given number, usually between 1.5 ...

What is an example of suing for emotional distress?

Examples of Emotional Distress Lawsuits
  • Medical malpractice. A physician may cause emotional harm to a person if they engage in treatments or procedures that may not be appropriate for the situation. ...
  • Witnessing a wrongful death. ...
  • Emotional distress after a car accident. ...
  • Nursing home abuse. ...
  • Personal injury. ...
  • Wrongful arrest.

How much is emotional distress worth in Texas?

There is no specific formula for calculating the amount of compensation you can recover for emotional distress in a personal injury case. The amount you can recover will depend on several factors, including the severity of your emotional distress and the impact it has had on your life.

What is the bodily injury requirement in Texas?

Texas law requires you to have at least $30,000 of coverage for injuries per person, up to a total of $60,000 per accident, and $25,000 of coverage for property damage. This is called 30/60/25 coverage.

How to counter sue for emotional distress?

In order to successfully counter sue for emotional distress, you will need to prove not only that you suffered emotional harm but also that the other party's conduct was outrageous or extreme.

How much compensation can you claim for stress?

An award of over £1,500 and up to around £5,000 is appropriate where the mistakes cause sustained distress, potentially affecting someone's health, or severe disruption to daily life typically lasting more than a year.

Can I sue the police for emotional distress?

Citizens can also sue if the officer causes emotional distress through a negligent act. However, when the court determines that the police officer's conduct was in the scope of their law enforcement duties, the officer may be immune from being held liable.

How serious is emotional distress?

Whether or not a mental health problem is present, emotional distress can be overwhelming and affect daily functioning. The symptoms may resolve on their own, but various strategies can help, such as practicing stress reduction techniques and building a support network.

What evidence supports emotional distress?

The two main ways to prove emotional distress damages are (1) for the employee (and their friends and family) to testify about how the discrimination caused psychological injury, and/or (2) have a doctor or mental health professional testify about the harm suffered.

How to prove psychological injury?

Evaluating the predominant cause of mental injury
  1. Information provided by the agent, such as GP clinical records and circumstance investigation reports.
  2. Information provided by the worker during the assessment, such as: their mental health history. details of their personal life.

What is the difference between emotional stress and emotional distress?

Stress responses are normal reactions to environmental or internal perturbations and can be considered adaptive in nature. Distress occurs when stress is severe, prolonged, or both.

Is emotional distress a bodily injury?

Bodily injury, as defined by the policy and interpreted by the Superior Court, only includes emotional distress, mental anguish, humiliation, mental distress or injury, or any other similar injury if it is a direct result of bodily harm.

How to calculate emotional distress damages?

As with physical pain and suffering, courts may use a multiplier method to calculate emotional distress damages. This involves multiplying the plaintiff's economic damages (such as medical bills) by a number, usually between 1.5 and 5, depending on the severity of the distress.

What is the difference between bodily harm and injury?

While they may sound very similar and are sometimes used interchangeably, there is a difference between the terms “bodily injury” and “personal injury.” They both refer to harm suffered by an individual, but bodily injury refers only to physical injuries, whereas personal injury includes a range of damages that may go ...